WARNING -The mass medication of children with psychiatric drugs is a major Safeguarding Issue which needs reviewing and alternatives like psychological interventions, physical activity, or mindfulness training should be used as a first course of action. Let's 'Enable not Label' kids to give them better control of their futures - - - - - - - - -"There can be no keener examination of a society's soul than the way it chooses to treat its children." - - - - -
- Nelson Mandela

Attention deficitToo often, poverty is treated with pills

May 10th 2018| LOS ANGELIN A recently released documentary,“Take Your Pills”, Leigh, a freckled college senior, sits on her bed and reflects on her relationship with Adderall, a stimulant widely used to treat Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), a condition that makes it hard to focus or control impulses. “Adderall for me has always been, like, when you’re desperate…You’re like, I need this right now because I need to be my best, smartest, fastest self,” she says, after calculating what score she will need on an imminent exam to boost her final grade. Later on, Nathanael, a software engineer with piercing blue-green eyes who codes with a cat nestled in his lap, recounts how Adderall allowed him to work intensely until midnight—a coder’s dream

According to a study conducted by Milken Institute School of Public Health at George Washington University, in 2011 12% of American children and teenagers had a diagnosis of ADHD, an increase of 43% from 2003. IMS Health, a health-care information and services company, found that sales of prescription stimulants like those used to treat ADHD quintupled between 2002 and 2012 to nearly $9bn. People like Leigh and Nathanael, who sometimes turn to medication to cope with pressure, often spring to mind as typical consumers of such things. But they are not the only ones. A new study by researchers at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy reveals high rates of psychiatric diagnosis and medication use among poor, very young Americans.

The study, which was published in JAMA Paediatrics, a medical journal,looked at 35,244 children born in an unidentified mid-Atlantic state in 2007 and followed them until the end of 2014, when they were seven years old. All the children were enrolled in Medicaid, which provides free or cheap health care to low-income Americans. By the age of eight, when children are typically learning about fractions and the solar system, nearly 20% of those studied had received a psychiatric diagnosis. The rate in the population at large is around 14%, according to the National Survey of Children’s Health. Just over 10% of children in the study group received medication to alter their mental state.
Dinci Pennap and Julie Zito, respectively a PhD candidate and professor at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, directed researchers to look at diagnoses including ADHD, learning disorders, anxiety disorders, depression and autism-spectrum disorders. ADHD was the most prevalent condition diagnosed, and stimulants were the most commonly prescribed drugs. The research also suggests startlingly high psychiatric diagnosis rates among young children receiving foster care. Nearly 60% of children in foster care had such a diagnosis, compared with 17% for “income-eligible” children whose families hover at or below the federal poverty level.
The finding that poor children are more likely to be medicated echoes previous research. A study conducted by researchers at Columbia and Rutgers Universities and published in 2009 found that children covered by Medicaid are provided with antipsychotic drugs, used to treat conditions such as bipolar disorder, at a rate four times higher than privately insured children, and often for less severe conditions.
“One problem is that we’re medicating behaviour,” says Ms Pennap, the Maryland study’s lead author. “If a child doesn’t do well in school, they’re medicated because they might be in homes where their parents work three jobs and don’t have the bandwidth to explore the underlying problems or nonmedical options.” Dr Zito partly blames direct-to-consumer drug advertising and the urge to reach for quick fixes. Her most pressing worry is that there has been little scrutiny of the long-term effects of exposing young children to such medication. “They have little hearts, little brains, and little livers. We really don’t know how the physiology of young kids will be impacted by these potent drugs,” Dr Zito muses. In most scenarios, poor children are likely to have less than wealthier children: less educational opportunity, less healthy food, less-safe neighbourhoods. When it comes to psychotropic drugs, the opposite is true.

This article appeared in the United States section of the print edition under the headline "Attention deficit"

But it found that many families had long waits for both diagnoses and CAMHS appointments, where some felt staff were over-stretched.

And some parents told the coalition that, when they refused medication for their child, CAMHS quickly discharged them, making it harder for them to obtain further support.

Problems in school were also highlighted in the report, which revealed that only a quarter of parents (26%) believed their child's teachers had a good understanding of ADHD.

About 5% of respondents said their child had been permanently excluded from school, while a third (33%) said their child had been temporarily suspended at least once.

The report found a perception among parents that access to support for learning staff to help classroom teachers was jeopardised by staff and funding cuts.

Lorna Redford, a trustee of the coalition, said: "The survey findings reflect what we hear from parents all the time.

"It is imperative that school staff are recruited in sufficient numbers and trained about ADHD to ensure our children and young people receive the same educational opportunities as their non-ADHD peers.

"This modest and realistic target would reap huge rewards in the mental health, quality of life and societal outcomes for sufferers."

The Scottish government said it took the mental health of young people "very seriously".

Mental Health Minister Maureen Watt said: "That is why we have doubled the number of child and adolescent mental health service psychology posts in recent years, and we're investing an extra £150m in mental health over five years.

"Drugs for ADHD are routinely prescribed in line with good clinical practice, including on-going supervision by health professionals to ensure patients only remain on them as long as appropriate.

"They are often used alongside treatments such as counselling or psychological therapies provided locally.

"Early intervention and prevention are the cornerstone of our approach to mental health and wellbeing."

Image captionRhys Sinclair take medication for his ADHD and he has received additional specialist support

What is ADHD?

It is a neuro-developmental condition, with symptoms including inattention, impulsivity and hyperactivity.

ADHD is caused by a mix of factors, including environment and early childhood experiences but it strongly hereditary.

Symptoms are apparent in early childhood and for most people continue into adulthood.

It rarely exists on its own and is associated with autism, dyslexia, dyspraxia, sensory processing disorders and tic disorder.

It can lead to problems including poor academic achievement, unemployment, criminality, and drug and alcohol dependency.

If a child client was a member of your family or circle of friends would this drug be a wise move??

I have recently started some YOUTUBE videos to supplement this blog.If you prefer watching on full screen with either music or BBC radio documentaries about over-prescription then this may be worth a look.The radio programmes which I was a part of are two BBC 'Radio 5 Investigates' with Adrian Goldberg and BBC Radio 4 'Woman's Hour' with Jenny Murray -

on: YOUTUBE VIDEOS 'OVER-PRESCRIPTION FOR KIDS.'

LINK : https://www.youtube.com/user/Humanagement2011

or :https://www.youtube.com/user/Humanagement2015

For more videos on the dangers of pill popping for normal behavioural responses.

FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER ON : @davetraxson

THERE IS NO HIGHER FORM

OF HUMAN ENDEAVOUR

THAN TELLING THE TRUTH

AND SHAMING THE DEVIL."

WALT WHITMAN(EMINENT AMERICAN POET)

+ CLICK ON LOGO BELOW TO ACCESS EXCITING NEW - DxSummit.org website a new international forum on promoting positive mental health.

Search This Blog

cope-yp@blogspot.com = SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN FROM THE DANGERS OF DSM-5

Challening Over-prescription by Professionals in Education for Young People + International Response Committee to DSM-5 - CLICK ON LOGO ABOVE FOR STATEMENT OF CONCERN + PETITION

About Me

I am a Chartered Educational Psychologist (BPS),who has seen this questionable practice increase exponentially in my thirty year career.I am a member of the International Response Committee to DSM-5 (Blog: http: dsm5response.com) and the DECP Committee of the BPS. Now is the time to challenge doctors in cases where psychologists have ethical concerns about the Emotional Wellbeing of the children with whom they work.This is supported by the Health Professionals Council "Duties as a Registrant."(2009) = "You must not do anything or allow someone else to do something that you may have good reason to believe will put the health or safety of a service user in danger."
We all therefore :
"HAVE A DUTY OF CARE TO BE AWARE" of these issues in the schools where we work.
The National Committees of the Association of Educational Psychologists and the Division od Educational and Child Psychology(A Division of the B.P.S.) actively support raising concern about THE IMPACT OF PSYCHOTROPIC DRUGS ON THE SAFEGUARDING OF CHILDREN.
LET'S LIMIT DSM5 in the U.K.
"When deceit is so universal, telling the truth is revolutionary,"George Orwell. SAFEGUARDING IS THE KEY ISSUE.

DO WE WANT THIS 'BRAVE NEW WORLD' HUXLEY FORETOLD AND KIDS' BRAINS TOXIFIED BY THE NEW 'SOMA!'

"I don't understand why they want me / us to take a pill to fit into society!" ++++++++++++++++Adults working with kids should follow the maxim,"PASTORAL CARE HAVE A DUTY OF CARE TO BE AWARE," about which children they work with take psychotropic drugs.+++++++++++++'CLICK ON PICTURE TO GO TO dsm5response,com